Festivities To Help Park Inaugurate Horse Trail

PEMBROKE PINES — Be they saddled up or not, visitors to C.B. Smith Park this Saturday can enjoy the festivities planned in conjunction with the grand opening of the new equestrian trail.

The park`s first Country and Western Day, expected to become an annual event, will feature a concert by the musical group Heartbreak plus clogging and two- step dance demonstrations at 1 and 4 p.m. in the park amphitheater.

After that, members of the South Florida Trail Riders will do some competitive horsing around in the park, which is on Flamingo Road just north of Hollywood Boulevard.

Only members of the trail riders group can participate in the competition, but visitors can watch such untraditional horse events as ``Slither, Jump, Back, Pass Boogie`` and ``Rip, Ride and Row Rumba.``

Developing the equestrian trail was inspired by requests from the trail riders group, said District Administrator Robert Stevens.

The 4.3-mile out-and-back path takes riders around a portion of the park`s perimeter.

Until trees in the park mature, the most interesting stretch runs along the western section of the park, where the trail is flanked by a wooded area and a canal.

Also, four picnic areas with barbecue grills have been set up along the way.

To ride through the trail, park visitors must bring their own horses, but the park may eventually rent horses, Stevens said.

He said he is considering a proposal to establish an equestrian complex, including arenas for dog and horse shows, in the undeveloped north end of the park.